Who do I contact if I am running late?

Please plan to arrive on time for your class. We allow a 10-minute grace period for check-in before the class officially departs or begins. If you find that you will not be making it, please notify us in advance via email at desertinstitute@joshuatree.org.

What if I need to cancel?

Desert Institute will provide a full refund if we are notified more than 7 days in advance. We are unable to process refunds for any cancellations less than 7 days in advance.

Does Desert Institute cancel activities for weather or low enrollment?

If we do not meet our minimum of 10 registered participants for any given activity, we will likely cancel the activity with at least 48+ hours’ notice. Desert Institute runs classes rain or shine, except for astrophotography classes, which require mostly clear skies to be successful. If weather poses a safety risk, the class will be cancelled or postponed. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance, as we are unable to reimburse for expenses you incur due to a canceled class, such as airfare and hotel.

What if I forgot something I need?

Our visitor centers and park stores are stocked with amazing essentials for your adventure. Preview or purchase items from our online shop; we carry hats, shirts, bandanas, water bottles, notebooks, maps, books. And more!

Can I bring my kids? My Spouse? Pets?

Only registered participants may attend Desert Institute activities (unless noted in the activity description). If this is a kid-friendly activity, please make sure your child(ren) are registered and meet the age requirements. As much as we love pets, we don’t allow them in the field with any of our activities.

Paleontology of Joshua Tree Field Experience

Name: Paleontology of Joshua Tree Field Experience
Start: 2026-11-14T09:00:00-0800
End: 2026-11-14T12:00:00-0800
Location: Rattlesnake Rm

Sat, Nov 14, 9am - 12pm PST

Rattlesnake Rm

Accessibility info

Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association

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Description

Step back in time and discover the prehistoric wonders of Joshua Tree National Park with vertebrate paleontologist and Western Science Center Collections Manager, Brittney Elizabeth Stoneburg. This immersive course explores the fascinating fossil record of the region, revealing the ancient landscapes that once supported colossal creatures like ground sloths, mammoths, and other Ice Age animals.

Through engaging discussion and storytelling, participants will gain insight into how scientists' piece together the park’s paleontological history and what these discoveries reveal about long-term climate and ecosystem changes in the Mojave Desert. The program concludes with a guided hike, where participants will explore the park’s geology firsthand, connecting ancient fossils to the rocks and formations that preserve Joshua Tree’s deep past.

The lecture portion of this class takes place at Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters in Twentynine Palms.
The outdoor portion takes place at Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park.
Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required.
Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not included in the cost of enrollment. Please purchase your park pass ahead of time by visiting the NPS website.
No meals or equipment are provided.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; carpooling with other participants is encouraged.

This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking with limited elevation gain on somewhat variable terrain and/or more than one hour outdoors in the elements.

Required Items:

Water (1 - 2 liters per person)
Appropriate hiking attire
Food and snacks
Closed-toe athletic shoes
Sun protection: A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended
Daypack
Binoculars (recommended)
Camera (optional)
Field notebook (optional)
A full tank of gas (or full charge for EVs) prior to arriving at the meeting location

Discount Policy: Only one discount may be applied per registration. Discounts cannot be combined. Eligible discounts include Friends & Family, Teacher, Veteran, Active Duty Military (and spouses), Park Lover Member, and Student discounts. The highest applicable single discount will be applied at checkout.

Meet Your Instructor: Brittney Elizabeth Stoneburg is a vertebrate paleontologist and the Collections & Marketing Manager for the Western Science Center, a natural history museum in Hemet, CA. She holds a master's degree in Environmental Science from California State University, Fullerton, and her research focuses on fossil mammals from Southern California, particularly mastodons and horses. She has conducted scientific fieldwork across the United States, including right here in Joshua Tree National Park.

Photo Credit: DI/Cindi Anderson

FAQs

Who do I contact if I am running late?

Please plan to arrive on time for your class. We allow a 10-minute grace period for check-in before the class officially departs or begins. If you find that you will not be making it, please notify us in advance via email at desertinstitute@joshuatree.org.
What if I need to cancel?

Desert Institute will provide a full refund if we are notified more than 7 days in advance. We are unable to process refunds for any cancellations less than 7 days in advance.
Does Desert Institute cancel activities for weather or low enrollment?

If we do not meet our minimum of 10 registered participants for any given activity, we will likely cancel the activity with at least 48+ hours’ notice. Desert Institute runs classes rain or shine, except for astrophotography classes, which require mostly clear skies to be successful. If weather poses a safety risk, the class will be cancelled or postponed. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance, as we are unable to reimburse for expenses you incur due to a canceled class, such as airfare and hotel.
What if I forgot something I need?

Our visitor centers and park stores are stocked with amazing essentials for your adventure. Preview or purchase items from our online shop; we carry hats, shirts, bandanas, water bottles, notebooks, maps, books. And more!
Can I bring my kids? My Spouse? Pets?

Only registered participants may attend Desert Institute activities (unless noted in the activity description). If this is a kid-friendly activity, please make sure your child(ren) are registered and meet the age requirements. As much as we love pets, we don’t allow them in the field with any of our activities.

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

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Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association

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Desert Institute is the educational branch of JTNPA, Joshua Tree National Park’s primary non-profit partner and offers field classes, recreational adventures, weekend excursions, and social events that span a wide spectrum of disciplines and formats. Our programming works to articulate and animate the rich resources of not only the national park but also the surrounding desert environment and the community of people who make Joshua Tree so unique. Our vision is to provide a rich, learning environment that inspires people of all ages and backgrounds to recreate together and help steward this beautiful place for years to come.

Desert Institute (DI) was established in 1999 by the former Chief of Interpretation and current Vice President of JTNPA’s Board of Directors, Joe Zarki. DI was operated by the National Park Service in its first year thanks to a grant from the Parks as Classrooms program. After the first year, the Institute program was absorbed by JTNPA as part of its educational operations.

JTNPA has provided support to the park for over 60 years through educational programming, cash aid, in-kind aid, and visitor center operations. We work in partnership with Joshua Tree National Park to help achieve programming goals in education and interpretation, along with scientific and historical research and activities.

Learn more about our work and how you can get involved: (760) 820-1103 | desertinstitute@joshuatree.org